The Darlington news. (Darlington, S.C.) 1875-1909, December 28, 1893, Image 3
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Overland Witi Kit Carson
Bj W/THOMSOir.
tCopj'right, I8ta, by American Preaa Anrcln-
tton.J
* CHAPTER L
owft'frtgon trnen L»rson CAreiessty miq,
“Maybe yon’d best keep all your clothe*
on tonight, girl*, for we’ll likely make a
start by 3 in the morning."
“Oh, captain,’’ laughingly replied Miss
Douglas, “well not go regularly to bed
so long a* the Indian* are about If
they call upon us, they'll find us ready
dressed."
“Back, men! Back to cover! Don’t
feee sight of the wotnen," ahouted the
captain of our train as we were hurry
ing toward the advanced position by the
wde of adfep canyon Where he had (Some
to a standstill. _ * 4
We knew our- leader—the Unowned
Kit Carson—too welfto lose atnomen t in
idle queatiouing, so all turned at once and
•curried back to the hne of wagons, in
the center one of which sat Tom Socord’s
poetty wife and her still prettier sister,
Helen Douglas.
Rallying by the side of the women, or
(firls rather, neither being yet 20 years
of age, we looked ahead to see what Kit
waa doing. Much to our surprise, that
veteran scout, instead of riding swiftly
In, as we expected, had dismounted from
his horse and was walking quietly In
front of the animal, thus making its body
shield his own from any attack in the
rear.
When the ladies had retired, Kit’s
whole manner changed. He sat for some
time in deep thought, then quietly sig
naled us to follow him out of the corral.
On gaining a safe distance he said:
“Now, boys, it'sall right to play upeasy-
like before the women folks, but all the
same we're in for a big fight. These red
cusses outnumber us three to one, and
they're after scalps and plunder sure.
"Well by low and keep dark, so’s to
make believe we’re all asleep, and if we
can fool them into making a rush on the
wagons every man of ns must shoot
straight and steady, so’s to thin them
out a little.
“They’ll most likely attack on foot,
and if wo can knock a dozen of ’em over
at the first fire they'll turn and run.
Then you want to pour in the lead from
your revolvers and make a running fight
of it to the canyon. But don’t, any of
you, follow them one inch into it. If
“What’s up, cap?“ three or four of ns
asked in a breath as Carson, calm as the
summer day Itself, joined us.
“Nothing of much account, boys. But
If we’d once got into the canyon I reckon
none of us—only the women, maybe—
would ever have come ont alive.”
“Oh, Mr. Carson! What is it? Are
the Indianr there? Is there mnch dan
ger?” exclaimed Mrs. Secord.
“Danger! Bless yonr sweet heart, not
a mite for you or the girl so long’s a sin
gle man of us is left, and we ain't any
of ue going under just yet,” Kit gallant
ly replied. “But, boys, ;ou might as
well put things, in shipshape. It’s kind
of half likely that we’ll have a little
scrimmage. Near as I can guess, there’s
well on to 50 Apaches hiding in tha can
yon. I caught sight of a pony or two
and half a dozen warriors, and—well, the
red devils have got their warpaint on!
They’ve reckoned to wipe hs ont as we
went through the pass, bat they’ll have
to wait awhile.”
It was in 1850. We were on our way
from Missouri to California—were how
passing through Arizona and had ar
rived at Canyon Diablo (the Devil’s
canyon), in the vicinity of Little Colo
rado river, when onr guide had so on-
portunely discovered the ambnscade.
Besides Kit Carson, then in his prime
and abont 40 years of age, there were 18
men in our party, all stout fellows under
80, and the two young women. Our
ontfit consisted of five covered wagons,
afterward known as “prairie schooners,”
and 15 horses—i. e., an extra horse for
each wagon or available for the saddle
while hnnting buffalo and other game.
As It waa yet qnite early in the season
w* had found good grass all along the
ronte. Our cattle were consequently in
first class condition, and we had touch
enjoyed our trip, notwithstanding the
constant watchfulness wo had been
obliged to maintain ever since entering
Indian territory.
So far nothing very serious had oc
curred, though on several occasions it was
only onr complete state of preparation
that saved ns from attack, bat now that
we had reached the stamping gronnd of
the bloodthirsty Apaches we could hard
ly expect to escape molestation.
We were well armed for those times,
having a foil supply of muzzle loading
riflee, double barreled shotguns and to
each man a heavy Colt's revolver, then a
very costly weapon.
In less than five minntes after Carson
had given the command the wagons
were drawn into a rough circle and the
horses brought within the incloenre.
“Back, men! Back to cover!"
We had a reserve of dry feed on hand
sufficient to sustain the beasts for sever
al days and a week’s supply of water for
onrselvea, but In case of a prolonged
siege the horsee could be kept alive—or at
least from great suffering—only by a visit
once in every 24 hours to the nearest
branch of the Colorado, which Carson
said waa over a mile distant, and this
daily trip in the fade of watchful ene
mies would doubtless prove a desperate
enterprise.
None of ns, except the guide himself,
knew anything of Indian warfare be
yond what we had read in books, and
Kit’s manner was so nonchalant, his
mind so apparently free from care, that
all of ns save two were inclined to make
light of the situation. These two were
the newly married Tom Secord and a
powerfully built young fellow named
Frank Austin, who during our long jour
ney had monopolized rather more of
Helen Douglas’ society than waa alto
gether agreeable to the other bachelors
of the party.
Both men, however, managed to con
ceal their anxiety from the women, and
the latter soon recovered from their firs*
abont 8 o’clock in the afternoon
rune day when we came to a halt,
there were yet five boon of day-
left. Indeed on the open plain it
d not bo dark even after nightfall,
s moon was qnite foil and the sky
clondlsss.
This circumstance, Kit Carson said,
would be greatly to our advantage, as
tha hostilea oonld not well steal upon ns
unawares, and if they did attack we
see to shook 8® sparingly using
of the fuel stored in the wagons
r waa prepared at the usual time
xrtaken of aa cheerfully as if there
lot an enemy within 100 miles.
n Hm« not a sound—man's voice
my’s whinny-had been heard from
anyon. All within its gloomy
, geenied devoid of life, and noth-
ss than implicit faith in our leader
hare made us believe that it con-
[ a horde of ruthless savages pa-
p waiting to glut their hellish thirst
>uf" 9 o’clock the sUters bade us
■jyht and were moving 9° *> their
you‘do, you’ll lose your hair certain, for
these Apaches are cunning as coyotes,
and they’ll try to draw ns on to where
there’ll be lots more of them skulking.
“If you fellows all keep cool and just
kind of think you’re on a wolf hunt, we
can lick a hundred of the worst reds on
the plains. And, mind, we must lick
them so bad to begin with they'll not
want to trouble ns again. We've got
women along, and whatever happens
every last man of us must keel over be
fore a hair of their heads is touched.”
A low murmur of approval went
round the circle as Carson concluded,
and we assured him that we would im
plicitly obey instructions.
“If yon do, we’ll come ont all right,
men,” the brave fellow rejoined. “Now
let’s get to onr posts. Take yonr sta
tions all round inside the corral. Sit
right down on the ground and shoot be
tween the wheel spokes when the time
comes. Not a word’s to be spoken nor a
pipe lighted till we see what turns up.
I'll undertake to keep yon awake, and if
the attack's made only on one side yon
mnst all gather there, bnt don't show a
finger outside the shade of the wagons
till the reds begin to run. Then pile in
for all you’re worth.”
In a few minntes everything was ar
ranged to Kit’s satisfaction. The men,
each one with rifle ami revolver ready,
placed themselves abont 10 feet apart
entirely aronnd the inner circumference
of the circle, so as to command every
possible point of approach, and then, ex
cept for the gentle breathing of the
horees and the occasional howl of a dis
tant wolf, absolute silence prevailed—a
silence strangely weird and solemn to
the wakeful emigrants, who, however
fearless, could not fail to reflect that this
glorions, moonlit night might be their
last on earth.
Two hours passed away in that anx
ious expectancy, more trying to the
nerves of brave men than the fiercest
conflict, and still the Indians made no
sign.
It was nearly midnight, and some of
ns. cramped by long sitting and chafing
under the wearing suspense, were getting
restless. Kit Carson noted onr growing
disquiet, and gliding noiselessly from one
to the other whispered in the ear of each
a few words of cheer. He had barely
completed his round when his keen eye
detected one, two, three and finally up
to 40 savage*—save for paint, feathers
and weapons, naked as the day they were
born—steal from the black mouth of the
pass, range themselves in hne and crouch
ing like panthers come slowly toward us.
A qniet gesture called attention to this
move, and all the men rolled themselves
over to that side of the inclosure.
The canyon was more than 300 yards
away, bnt the moon now rode high in
the heavens, and we could see every
manenver of the Indians quite plainly.
For a little distance they preserved their
alignment and then divided up into five
groupa of eight each. It was evident
that believing ns to be asleep they had
arranged to attack all the wagons si
multaneously, and doubtless knowing
onr exact numbers supposed that in no
case was any one of the vehicles likely
to contain more than four men—an easy
prey for eight! After thus forming in
sections the central groups held back
for a time, while those on the flanks
made a circling sweep, and in a very
brief space onr position was completely
surrounded. The several detachments
then halted at abont 60 yards distance,
apparently awaiting some preconcerted
signal, or perhaps to make sure that we
were off our guard.
Although by the moon's clear light we
could distinctly note every movement of
onr enemies, we ourselves, wedged in be
tween and shaded by the closely packed
horses and the high topped wagons, were
quite invisible to them. Our force had
of course been properly redistributed to
meet the emergency, and there were now
four men concealed behind each one of
that number of wagons, while in lee if
of the fifth knelt Carson, Tom Secord
and Frank Austin.
For fully 10 minntes—anxious minutes
for ns—the hostiles remained motionless
as so many statues. Then the simulated
cry of a coyote broke in upon the dread,
stillness, and the whole five parties si
lently as shadows slowly converged
upon the corral. They did not, however,
come qnite np, bnt halted again when
within 25 yards, and we could see that
they were armed only with tomahawks,
knives and warclubs. having evidently
left their bows and arrows behind, in
tending to make a hand to hand massa
cre of it
As we gazed upon the hideously paint-
od wretchee each one of us no doubt
steadied his nerves and steeled his heart
by reflecting how mnch depended upon
his own individual prowess, but we had
little time to think at all, for within five
seconds of this last halt Kit Carson's
low command—“Steady, boys! Steady
now! All together. Fire!”—fell upon
onr ears.
[TO Bt COVTINURP, |
rue Tapping oi *«>• oaatuwaten.
The so called deathwatch, dreaded by
the superstitious, is a small beetle which
has a very powerful joint in it* neck
and call* its mate by tapping with its
bead on the wall or on any surface where
it may happen to be located. The noise
is similar to that which may be produced
by tapping irith the finger nails on a
table, and the insect can frequently be
made to answer such tape.—New York
Evening Sup 1
Wisdom and virtue are by no means
sufficient without the supplemental laws
of good breeding.
AREYOU
GOING TO
PAINT?
If yon are we want to say a
few words to you about paints
in general and the Averill
Paint in particular
Our long, hot season makes
ours one of the hardest and
most try'ngcliinatt son paints.
Cheap paints are worthless.
The best white lead will
“chalk off” in a very few
months.
A paint to give satisfactory
results here must l>e especial
ly adapted toourclimatic con
ditiona.
The JJtfepill
Is just such a pain-
It has bten used in thi» lo
cality for 23 years, and has al
ways given satisfa^ t ion. It
Is GUARANTEED
To give you perfect satisfac
tion after time sufficient to
thoroughly test it has elapsed,
and we are authorized to pro
tect this guarantee. Please
call at our store for color cards
(free), and see book of 20 ele-
gant designs for house-paint
ing
Welling & Bonnoilt.
Junl—lm
E.J. O’CONNOR,
-DEALER I2C-
Oil MOBim Horn
908 BROAD STREET,
.a.ttg-ttst.a., a-a..
The Largest Liquor House in the South
Choice Brandies, Wines,
Oins, Rums and Liquors of
Every Description.
Mail Orders Receive
Attention.
Sept 28—3mo
Prompt
Auditor’s Notice.
Auditor's Office. )
Darungtom, 8. C., Pee. 1,18flP. j
T HIS office will be open for the
purpose of listing all real and
personal property and poll taxes for
the fiscal year commencing Nov 1,
1893, and ending Oct. 81, 1894, from
January 1, to February 20, inclusive,
excepting days required in filling the
jury box and days named below.
1 will attend in person or by dep-
uty:
' Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 8.
Lamar, Tuesday and Wednesday,
Jan. 9 and 10.
Cypress, Thursday, Jan 11.
Ashland, Friday, Jan. 12.
Stokes Bridge, Saturday, Jan. 13.
Lydia, Monday, Jan. 15.
Hartsville, Tuesday and Wednes
day, Jan 16 and 17.
Antioch, Thursday, Jan. 18.
Leavensworth, Friday, Ian 19.
Society Hill, Thursday and Friday,
Jan. 18 and 19, by deputy.
Jasper, Saturday, Jail. 20, by dep
uty.
High Hill, Monday, Jan. 22, by dep
uty.
Mechanicsville, Tuesday, Jan. 23.
If taxpayers will aid theAuditor in get
ting all the taxable property on the
tax books much dissatisfaction now
existing wonld cease. The school
fund would be incieased if all taxable
lls could be entered. Male persons
tween the ages of 21 and 50 years
are deemed taxable polls except those
incapable of earning a support.
W. H. LAWRENCE,
Dec 7—4t Auditor D. C.
po
bei
Me’: Salt!
Pursuant to a deed of trust
made to me by W. D. Woods, I
will sell
AT PUBLIC OUTCRY,
in front of the Court House, at
Darlington, S. C., on
■AT, MM S, IS9i
The following described real es
tate :
All that tract of land situated
in the town of Darlington,
fronting on Cashua street, and
containing
85 ACRES
more or less; the same to be sold
X2>r LOTS
as indicated by a plat which
may be seen at the office of
Gibson & Woods.
The sale will continue from
day to day until all the lots are
sold.
Terms of sale, one-third cash;
balance in one year, secured by
the bond of the purchaser or
purchasers and mortgage of the
premises. Purchaser or pur
chasers to pay the undersigned
for all necessary papers.
N. S. GIBSON,
Nov30tojan4
Trustee.
No. 7, Knights of Pythi
as, meets on 1st and 3rd
Tuesday Evenings in
each month, at Caatle
Hail, Flo ence street,
opposite broad. Visit
ing brothers fraternally
CHRISTMHS GIFTS!
%
Thin is the Year to Give Comu lon-Senne Presents!
BUY FURNITURE.
Make Your Friends a Present that will
Make Their Heme Gemferlable!
I will display a nice line of Wagons, Bicycles, Tri
cycles and Velocipedes lor Children, as well as the
more useful, and substantial. Home Comtorts for the
older ones. Let me see you.
8S-P. S.— You will find me next to the Jail."®!
J.D. BHIRD.
The Darlington Shoe Store
We are receiving daily our stock of
Shoes for the Fall and Winter!
9
[MEN’S, LADIES’, MISSES and CHILDREN’S]
And beg an inspection of the same w hen in need of nice Footwear. Our stock is
bought in large quantities direct from the very best manufacturers, which ensures new
fresh goods, and we propose to sell them at a very small margin.
We call special attention to our $3.00 Shoe for Men, made by the ROCKLAI D Company; genuine calf, Goodyear welt, all styles
in congress and lace. Rubber Good8-Oleyery description, consisting of Mackin osh Garments for Ladies and Men, also a complete
line of Rubber Shoes for Men, Boys, Ladies, Misses andChildrem Wesellthe
MARVEL RUBBER a perfect rubber.’
TRUNKS, VALISES, SATCHELS, UMBRELLAS AND SHOE FINDINGS OF I VERY DESCRIPTION. NEWEST STYLE HATS.
Sep 14—4m
SHNTH
CLHUS’
Headquarters.
mum« m
With much pleasure we partly enumerate a list of the articles
to be found in our stock. Our line, usually very complete, is
much larger and more varied this season than ever before, em
bracing chiefly novelties of the American and Foreign markets.
Wood.
Leather.
Metal.
TOILET, MANICURE, ODOR, JEWEL, COMBINATION,
SMOKER, CIGAR, GAME SETS, PHOTO CASES,
TOILET AND HAND MIRRORS, GLOVES AND HANDKER
CHIEFS, FRAMES, KNIFE AND FORK, PEPPER
AND SALT, AFTER DINNER SPOONS, AUTOGRAPH, PHO
TOGRAPH AND SCRAP ALBUMS, ALBUM EASELS,
LAP TABLETS, PORT FOLIOS, TRAVELLING SETS, POC
KET BOOKS, CARD CASES, PURSES, BILL BOOKS,
LETTER CASES, PEN TRAYS, ASH RECEIVERS, INK
STANDS, PAPER WEIGHTS, PAPER CUTTERS.
BOOKLETS AND XMAS CARDS, CALENDARS, PRAYER
BOOKS AND HYMNALS, BIBLES, TESTAMENTS,
M’LAUGHLIN’S BOOKS, GAMES AND BLOCKS, JUVENILE
BOOKS, POEMS, TOYS, DOLLS, WAGONS, VELOCI
PEDES, BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, VASES, AND CHINA
GOODS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION. *
We are headquarters for School Books and School Supplies,
and in every department may be found all the latest novelties
that the market affords. Call and see.
BOOK STORE.
Nov 30-tUX
IS NOW
A complete line of every thing usual to a first-class Hardware
Store. Also a full line of
AgMd lafliauli, Epm’ Sipplies, Miur;, Stem
AISTID TIISTWAIRE,
And will sell at the very lowest prices for cash.
Tinning, Roofing & Plumbing
Oct6—tf
Al BFJBOI-A-IiTTT.
Insure Your Property
WITH
IF- E. XsTOEnVCEETT,
Who represent* the
un ME ME HUES H TEE TOE!
Satisfaction Guaranteed. Represents Twelve First-
class Companies.
September 11,1890
A Profitable Mmeiit.
The foUgwlog Is self-explanatory:
“On the 14th i ay of October, 1892,
we insured our lives in the Mutual
Benefit Life Insurance Company, of
Newark, N. J.. for $15,000. When
onr second premiums fell dne, we re
ceived over 26 pir cent, dividends on
our money. We can safely say to all
wanting insurance that this is the
safest and most profitable and liberal
company in the United States.
“S. Karoo,
“I. Lkwenthal."
Call on G. W. YODNG, A^ent, Par-
W. WITCOYER
Wishes to inform the public that be
has opened In the
ALEXANDER BUILDIHG
next door to Sanders’ bnteher
where he Is prepared to pay the 1
eet cash price* possible for all 1 ’
ler shop,
»l,
Coonlrr Produce tod Furs